SERIES OVERVIEW
Have you seen the car stickers that say “HE>i”? They are produced by a Christian-owned company on O’ahu that also sells clothing with the logo on it. It means “He (Jesus) is greater than i” and it is based on John 3:30. That’s where John the Baptist told his disciples to stop following him and start following Jesus. John said of Jesus: “He must increase and I must decrease.” In other words, “HE>i”. In October, Pastor G is going to be talking about just a few of the ways that statement is true when it comes to his life. His hope is that it will inspire you to consider the same thing in your life as well.
This week Pastor G shares how “God Is Greater Than My Weakness and Weariness.“
MESSAGE NOTES
Ekkakeeó (GREEK) Faint, Weary (ENGLISH)
To faint, to be weary, to be utterly despondent or spiritless, to be exhausted, to fail in heart, body, mind, emotions or spirit.
I am in trouble, God—listen to my prayer! I am afraid of my enemies—save my life! Protect me from the plots of the wicked, from mobs of evil people. They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like arrows. They are quick to spread their shameless lies; they destroy good people with cowardly slander. They encourage each other in their evil plots; they talk about where they will place their traps. “No one can see them,” they say. They make evil plans and say, “We have planned a perfect crime.” The human heart and mind are a mystery. ~ Psalm 64:1-6
But God shoots his arrows at them, and suddenly they are wounded. He will destroy them because of those words; all who see them will shake their heads. They will all be afraid; they will think about what God has done and tell about His deeds. All righteous people will rejoice because of what the Lord has done. They will find safety in Him; all good people will praise Him. ~ Psalm 64:7-10
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for Him He endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Think of Him who endured such opposition against Himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up. ~ Hebrews 12:1-3
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faith save him? ~ James 2:14
So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works. ~ James 2:17-18
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the eternal God, the Creator of the whole earth. He does not get tired or weary; there is no limit to His wisdom. He gives strength to those who are tired; to the ones who lack power, He gives renewed energy. Even youths get tired and weary; even strong young men clumsily stumble. But those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired. ~ Isaiah 40:28-31
Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.”~ Matthew 26:38
So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith. ~ Galatians 6:9-10
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ~ Matthew 11:28
GO DEEPER
ALOHA GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
READ: Psalm 64
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) Have you ever encountered an enemy like the one David describes? Maybe not someone bent on causing your physical harm but intent on causing you emotional, financial, relational or vocational harm? If so, how did you deal with the situation? If a friend approached you with that situation and ask for your advice what would you tell them?
READ: Hebrews 12:1-3
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) How would you express the meaning of this passage to a brand new Christian who had never heard it before?
2) The author refers to growing weary in your soul and giving up. Do you think these necessarily go hand-in-hand? Does soul weariness always lead to giving up? Why or why not?
READ: James 2:14-18
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) Do you agree with James regarding the relationship between faith and works? Why or why not? If not, explain to the group your understanding of how faith and works interact.
READ: Isaiah 40:28-31
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) Who is this passage addressing when it asks “Do you not know? Have you not heard?” How does this passage’s reference to renewed people rising up, running and walking connect to James’ connection between faith and works?
READ: Matthew 26:38
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) Pastor Greg said that this Scripture is an example of Jesus feeling human weakness and even the beginning of human weariness, even though He overcame it and persevered. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your answer.
2) What does it mean that Jesus’ soul was deeply grieved to the point of death? Have you ever felt that way?
READ: Galatians 6:9-10
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) When this passage refers to “doing good” and “doing good to all people” is that a synonym for the good works James refers to?
2) What exactly will we reap if we don’t give up? What will we reap if we do give up? What is the definition of “giving up” in this context?
READ: Matthew 11:28
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) In the context of this passage, in what way can we “come to Jesus?”
2) Have you ever felt weary and burdened?
3) When Jesus promises to give us “rest” what does He mean and how does that rest come to us?
4) Can you think of another word (or words) that could be used other than “rest” that helps to understand the deeper meaning of what He is promising?